Sanding machine



F. HARRIS SANDING MACHINE Filed May 10; 1946 1 INVENTOB Foris'fl Jilrris ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 23, 1948 .UMTED PATENT 1,;OF F-TI CE SANDING MAcmNE Forist-Harris, MemeiqCalif.

Application 'May ,10, 1946, Serial No: 668,861

I (anti-e176) GUIaims. 1' 1 Thisinvention relates ingeneral to improvements in power driven, floor sanding machines, and in'particular the invention relates to; and it is an object to provide, a'fioor sanding machine "especially designed for use in connection with bowling alleys.

Another, object of the invention is to provide a fioor'sanding machinewhichis constructed in a'manner to permit of sanding ofthe surface of bowlingflalleys'for the-full length thereof, including 'the'end portion or pin'deck immediately adjacent the pit; the-machine being provided with a" novel supporting roller assembly which permits-the sandin-gdrum 'to be run up to and across the-pin deck of -a--bowling alley, while at the same time maintaining- *saiddrurnin accurate working position.

:A further object of the invention is to provide novel means adjustably mounting *the supporting roller-s" on ,the main -fra-m-e of 'the machine.

A further "object of the'inventi'on is to provide a practical sanding machine-which will be effective for the purposes for which it is des-igned.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as-will fully= appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the-drawings:

Fig. 1 is aside elevation of 'the-fioor'sanding machine, partly broken away and partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentaryplan view of one of the adjustable, intermediate roller units.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary planview of one of the adjustable, forward-roller units.

Referring now more particularly to the-characters of reference on the drawings, the floor sanding machine comprises ahorizontal rectangular frame, indicated generally at 1., and which frame includes transversely spaced side plates 2. Adjacent but short of its forward-end the frame I supports a transversely extending sanding drum 3 including a shaft 4 journaled in connection with'the side plates 2; Thesanding drum 3 is driven from an electric motor 5 mounted on'the frame I to the rear of said drum; the drive means between the motor .5 and drum 3 comprising an endless belt and pulley unit 6.

The machine isoperator guided by means of a handle assembly 1 which is mounted on the frame I adjacent "the rear thereof and extends upwardly at a rearward incline.

Thermachine is supportedby- -a floor engaging "roller' :assembly 3 which includes a "transversely "spaced pair *ot -rear roller units, a "transversely spaced' pair of intermediate roller units, and a transversely-spacedpair of forward roller units, indicated at 8, 9,- and I0, respectively. The intermediate roller-units 8, and the forwardroller units "l-lly are mounted closely adjacent the back and-front, respectively, of the sanding drum 3. T-he rear' rollerunits 8 are non-adjustable and their mountingforms nopart of the present inventionz However, the'rollerunits 9 and H1 include -novel, adjustable mounts comprising the following The transversely spaced pair of intermediate roller-units 9 areidentical-in construction and therefore a'-description of-one will sufiice. Each of the intermediate roller units 9 comprises a -U -shapedyoke=iI disposed-with the-legs l2 thereof projectingmcarwardly; said yoke being pivtally-meunted, adjacent its-forward end, on a cross -shaftl3 supported between the adjacent side plate-2 and a rig-id dependingbracket Icincluded in the-frame; A wide face roller i5 is disposed within the yoke H and is fixed on a spi ndle' IB which extendsbetween, and is turn- "ably mounted in-connection with, the legs of 'said-yokeinterrnediate the ehds of the latter. A -cross pin 1e-xtendsbetween the rear endsof the yoke -legsll and a connector sleeve I8 is 'pivotallymounted on the cross pin H. A con-- 'trolrod 19 is threaded axially into the connec- -tor sleeve I8; as; at 2B, and thence extends at an upward and rearward-incline to connection with a hand 'crank 21 mounted on the handle assembly 1 at the top thereof, there being a toggle unit "22 interpo'sed inthecontrol rod l9. With the above-described arrangement rotation of the crank 21 in one direction or the other will cause corresponding rotation of the control rod l9, with- -resultant axial shifting of the connector sleeveda and consequent'vertical adjustment of the corresponding roller unit 9. The transversely spaced pair of forward 'roller units l-fl-aret identical in construction and therefore a-description of one willsuffice:

Each forward roller unit In comprises a U- shapedgyoke, indicated generally at 23, which includes forwardly projecting legs 24; Theyoke '23 is*-pivotally=-mounted adjacent its rear end on a'=*cross-=shaft25 which extends-"between the side :pl-atesfl directly ahead'of the sanding drum 3. A -wide-faced roller" 26 is disposed in the yoke "23 and is fixed on a spindle 2-1 which is journaled *i-zr connection with and extends between the yoke legs M- adjacent their forward ends.

" A rigidupstanding lever 28 is formed on the laterally outermost-yoke leg 24 and 'upstands to a point above the frame I. At its upper end the lever 28 is pivotally attached to a connector sleeve .29. A control rod 30 is threaded at its lower end axially into the connector sleeve 29, as at 3|, and thence extends at an upward and rearward incline to the top of the handle assembly I. At the top of the handle assembly 1 the control rod 30 is connected to a crank 32, and a toggle unit 33 is interposed in the rod adjacent said crank. With rotation of the crank 3| in one direction or the other the rod 30 is correspondingly rotated, causing axial shifting of the connector sleeve 29, which results in vertical adjustment of the corresponding roller unit I. There is of course a pair of control rods H1 and 30, and handle-mounted cranks 2| and 3|, for the roller units 9 and It] on each side of the machine.

A dust retaining hood 34 is disposed over the sanding drum 3.

As the above described machine is designed primarily for use in connection with the surface conditioning of bowling alleys, a description of its use for this purpose is as follows:

When the machine is in use for sanding the long run of a bowling alley from its forward end to adjacent the pin deck, the intermediate roller units 9 are adjusted in clearance relation above the floor, while the forward roller units I are individually adjusted, in floor engagement, to support the sanding drum at proper transverse level and elevation. As the forward roller units H) are mounted closely adjacent the sanding drum 3, very accurate adjustment of the latter can be obtained.

When the machine is being used adjacent and over the pin-deck of a bowling alley, which is at the end immediate the pit. the forward roller units l0 run off the alley and hang free above the pit, as is shown in Fig. 1. It is at this time that the intermediate roller units 9 are brought into play. Before the sanding machine makes any pass across the pin deck. i. e. across the end portion of the alley immediate the pit, said intermediate roller units 9 are adjusted downwardly until they ride the floor in positions to maintain the sanding drum 3 at its correct transverse level and elevation. Thus, when a pass is made across the pin-deck and the forward roller units |0 pass beyond the end of the alley and overhang the pit,

the intermediate roller units 9 then properly support the sanding drum 3 for completion of the sanding operation.

When the machine is in use the operator walks behind the same with his hands in engagement with the top of the handle assembly, whereby to guide or steer the machine as it travels along the floor. By reason of the described adjusting means for the forward and intermediate pairs of roller units, including the cranks 2| and 32, the roller units of said forward and intermediate pairs may be selectively and independently adjusted by the operator without stopping the machine and from his station to the rear of the latter.

The combination of the forward and intermediate roller units with'the sanding drum, in

the relationship described, is advantageous or the reason that on the long runs or passes which the machine makes on an alley, greater accuracy is obtained if the forward roller units are adjacent but ahead of the sanding drum. Yet, when the pin-deck is sanded, the forward roller units are not usable, as described hereinbefore; and thus the intermediate roller unitsare useful to then effectively support the sanding drum.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A floor sanding machine comprising a frame, a power driven sanding drum mounted transversely on the frame adjacent its forward end, a transversely spaced pair of rear roller units mounted on the frame adjacent its rear end, a transversely spaced pair of forward roller units mounted on the frame adjacent its forward end, and a transversely spaced pair of intermediate roller units mounted on the frame intermediate said forward and rear pairs of roller units; the forward and intermediate pairs of units being independently vertically adjustable and disposed ahead and to the rear, respectively, of the sand ing drum.

2. A floor sanding machine comprising a frame, a power driven sanding drum mounted transversely on the frame adjacent its forward end, a transversely spaced pair of rear roller units mounted on the frame adjacent its rear end, a transversely spaced pair of forward roller units mounted on the frame adjacent its forward end, and a transversely spaced pair of intermediate roller units mounted on the frame intermediate said forward and rear pairs of roller units; the individual roller units of the forward and intermediate pairs being selectively and independently vertically adjustable, and said pairs being disposed closely adjacent the front and rear, respectively, of the sanding drum. I

3. A floor sanding machine which includes a frame, a power driven sanding drum on the frame, and vertically adjustable floor engaging roller units mounted in the frame; the mounting means for each roller unit comprising a U-shaped yoke having longitudinally extending, transversely spaced legs, a cross shaft in the frame, on which shaft the yoke is pivoted for vertical swinging movement, a roller in the yoke including a spindle extending between the legs of said yoke, the machine having an upstanding handle assembly at the rear, a-rod extending from the handle as sembly to adjacent the yoke, said rod being rotatable but axially immovable, hand means on the rod at its upper end to rotate said rod, and a connector sleeve pivoted in connection with the yoke, the lower end of the rod being threaded axially into said sleeve from its free end.

4. In a floor sanding machine which includes a frame, a power driven sanding drum on the frame, and vertically adjustable floor engaging roller units mounted in the frame; the mounting means for each roller unit comprising a vertically movable roller supporting member, a roller journaled on said member, a U-shaped yoke having longitudinally extending, transversely spaced legs, a cross shaft in the frame, on which shaft the yoke is pivoted for vertical swinging movement, a roller in the yoke including a spindle extending between the legs of said yoke, the machine having an upstanding handle assembly at the rear, a rod extending from the handle assembly to adjacent the member, said rod being rotatable but axially immovable, hand means on the red at its upper end to rotate said rod, and a connector sleeve pivoted in connection with the member, the lower end of the rod being threaded axially into said sleeve from its free end.

5. In a fioor sanding machine which includes a frame, a power driven sanding drum on the frame, and vertically adjustable floor engaging roller units mounted in the frame; the mounting means for each roller unit comprising a U-shaped yoke having longitudinally extending, transversely spaced legs, a cross shaft in the frame, on which shaft the yoke is pivoted for vertical swinging movement, a roller in the yoke including a spindle extending between the legs of said yoke, the machine having an upstanding handle assembly at the rear, a rod extending from the handle assembly to adjacent the yoke, said rod being rotatable but axially immovable, hand means on the rod at its upper end to rotate said rod, a rigid lever fixed on and upstanding from the yoke, and a connector sleeve pivoted on the lever at its upper end, the lower end of the rod being threaded axially into said sleeve from its free end.

6. A floor sanding machine comprising a frame, a power driven sanding drum mounted transversely on the frame adjacent its forward end, frame supporting rear roller units mounted on the frame, forward frame supporting roller units mounted on the frame adjacent its forward end, intermediate frame supporting roller units mounted on the frame between said rear and front roller units, the front and intermediate roller units being disposed closely adjacent the front and rear, respectively, of the drum, the front and intermediate roller units being separately vertically adjustable whereby they may be so adjusted that the Weight of the frame may be selectively supported on the rear and intermediate roller units or on the rear and front roller units, respectively.

FORIST HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,041,240 Chappell Oct. 15, 1912 1,614,855 Stubblefield Jan. 18, 1927 2,199,615 Casper May 7, 1940 2,375,102 Harris May 1, 1945 

